Brooklyn-based band Atomic Tom supposedly had all their instruments stolen earlier this month. So they decided to hop on the B-train and perform their single “Take Me Out” using nothing but iPhones and musical apps. The video went viral and has garnered around 2.1 million hits on YouTube. I say “supposedly had their instruments stolen” because this all went down about three months after their debut album The Moment hit iTunes. Publicity stunt or not, these guys are super talented.
[Via Digg]
Apple recently updated (and made more explicit) their App Store Review Guidelines. A choice quote: “We have over 250,000 apps in the App Store. We don’t need any more Fart apps.” Developer Conniption Entertainment responded with Fart Studio.
[Via Gizmodo]
The warring atmosphere between Apple (backer of HTML5) and Adobe (Flash) over the Internet video standard is about to heat up once again. Developer Skyfire submitted to the App Store the first mobile browser capable of running Flash content on Apple mobile devices. The Skyfire browser for Apple devices embeds the Safari browser, meaning that the browser will look and run similarly to the built-in mobile Sarari browser and it will incorporate new features from Skyfire. One major new feature is the ability to run Flash-based content within in the brower. Skyfire has done their homework:
Skyfire for iPhone was built in tight accordance to Apple guidelines, including the use of a WebKit browser core shared with Safari, and h.264 adaptive streaming. Skyfire’s famed cloud-computing technology translates Flash video on the fly from millions of web sites into HTML5 formats, and supports iOS devices via Apple’s HTTP live streaming standard. Skyfire also avoids the concerns raised in Steve Jobs’ recent essay regarding Flash on mobile devices. By optimizing Flash for iPhones and network conditions in the Cloud, Skyfire improves performance and maximizes battery life while playing video. The browser also avoids alternate runtime environments and other security vulnerabilities.
In other words, the Skyfire browser technically does not run Flash content; it “translates” the content in the cloud (it talks to Skyfire’s servers) from Flash to HTML5. And thanks to H.264 adaptive streaming, the browser will compress video data by an average of 75% so as not to create network congestion. Adaptive streaming also promises a reduction in buffer time and enhanced battery life. So cross your fingers and let’s hope Apple doesn’t destroy our dreams of watching more delicious content on our iPads, iPhones, and iPod touches. Check out the video sitting after the break to see an iPhone play an episode of The Daily Show (Flash video) without hiccup. Official PR is there, too.
[Via Engadget] Continue reading Skyfire attempting to bring Flash to the iPhone
Netflix on the iPhone and iPod touch is no surprise; the free app was demoed at WWDC back in June and the iPad has been enjoying its company since launch. On August 26 the Netflix app was updated (to version 1.1.0) to support all iOS4 devices. The app will stream movies and TV shows over WiFi and 3G. Within the app you have access to your personal Instant Queue (which is managable right on the device) and you can search and add new content to your queue using a standard search method or viewing content by genre. You also have the ability to resume watching a show or movie right where you left off on your TV or computer. The app itself is free, but remember you must be signed up for a Netflix membership (which starts at $8.99/month) to login and start streaming. Download the app here and happy streaming! Look after the break for a brief video preview of the app in action.
[Via Engadget] Continue reading Netflix finds a home in iPhone & iPod touch
VEVO, the vast and growing music video portal on YouTube, is now available in app form. Besides containing over 20,000 music videos from more than 7,000 artists the VEVO app also brings with it:
The VEVO app is only available in the U.S. and Canada. iPad and Android versions are coming soon. Download it for free here.
Similar to Foursquare, Facebook Places gives you the ability to share your location in the world with friends and view your friends’ location. “Checking in” and sharing your location is simple:
Go to Places on the iPhone application or touch.facebook.com site and then tap the “Check In” button. You’ll see a list of places near you. Choose the place that matches where you are. If it’s not on the list, search for it or add it. After checking in, your check-in will create a story in your friends’ News Feeds and show up in the Recent Activity section on the page for that place.
You can even “tag” friends that are with you, just as you can tag a friend in a status update or photo. You can also post an update along with your check-in to tell people more about what you are doing. The “People Here Now” section reveals a list of nearby Facebook users, whether they are “friends” or not. People will only show up in this list if they are checked into the same location as you.
Privacy concerns are an ongoing issue at Facebook HQ, so they made sure to highlight ways to tweak Places options. The default setting shares your location and previously tagged locations with friends only; you have to option to change the master privacy control to “Everyone” if you like. You also have the option whether or not to allow your friends to check you in to places. If you let them do so, you will receive notification every time you are checked into a place. You can always remove yourself from the places you’ve been checked or tagged into, just as you can remove your name from a tagged photo. Want to learn more about controlling your privacy with Places? Watch this helpful and informative video from Lifehacker that goes through the motions step-by-step.
Facebook Places is only available on the iPhone in the US. In order to access the new feature you must download the free update for the Facebook app. Along with Places, version 3.2 brings background photo and video uploads (for iOS4 users), some visual and loading enhancements, and various bug fixes. Got an Android and Blackberry device? Point your browser to touch.facebook.com to access an HTML 5 version of Places to join the fun. Facebook is working on bring Places to other mobile devices and more countries. They have opened up a Places API for third party developers like Foursquare, Gowalla, and Yelp to use in their respective services.
On Thursday Google introduced a new app for Android devices called Voice Actions. “Voice Actions are a series of spoken commands that let you control your phone using your voice.” Sounds simple and yet it is extremely helpful. There are a total of twelve voice actions you can perform by speaking into the device’s mic. Including the already implemented method of performing a Google search with your voice, other actions include:
Here’s how a number of them work. You can complete a text message or email without touching the (physical or on-screen) keyboard simply by saying “send text to Bill Will” or “send email to Bill Will” respectively. The phone will take a second to understand your speech input and then present your message all ready for delivery. Tapping send will shoot your message off. Speak and send, it’s that simple. Voice actions extend beyond text messaging and emailing. Say there’s a restaurant you want to call to make reservations for dinner. You know the name and location of the restaurant, but you don’t have the business’ phone number handy. You could bring up the browser and find the number that way, but with voice actions you can more quickly and efficiently obtain and dial the restaurant’s number. The voice action “Call Sarabeth’s in NYC” will prompt your device to quickly search the Internet (using Google Maps) for the restaurant’s phone number by pinging the name and specific location. Within seconds of your voice action you’ll hear your phone ringing the restaurant or place of business. You can even use voice actions to find and listen to music. When you say “Listen to The Decemberists” your phone will search across your music library and any number of related apps (Pandora, last.fm, etc.) to start playing music from that particular band. “Note to self”, as cliche as it sounds, serves as another interesting voice action that’ll likely come in handy from time to time.
Voice Actions require Android 2.2 (Froyo) and they are currently available for U.S. English speakers only. Droid 2 owners will find the app preinstalled on their device. If you have an Android 2.2 device, search ‘Voice Search’ in the Android Market to find the free download.
Google also announced Chrome to Phone, a Chrome browser extention and Android app that communicate with each other to send browser-specific information from your desktop to your phone. Once you have Chrome to Phone installed on your desktop and phone, you can send websites, directions, and phone numbers from your desktop Chrome browser to your Android device. For example, say you’re catching up on national news at The New York Times website but you are interuppted and forced to leave home. Simply tap the new phone icon located at the top right corner of your Chrome browser window and the website will appear on your Android phone. Now let’s say you are planning a road trip using Google Maps in Chrome. Instead of wasting paper by printing out the directions, now you can send the directions from your desktop to your phone. The instant transfer will automatically open up the Google Maps app on your phone and you’re just a tap away from initiating a Google Maps Navigation route using the transferred location information. One more example. You want to make a reservation at Sarabeth’s in NYC and you found the restaurant’s phone number on your desktop. Ready to make the call? Highlight the phone number, tap the new phone button in Chrome, and the transfer will bring up your phone’s dialer prepopulated with the restaurant’s number.
The Google Chrome to Phone Extention is available (in English only) to download today. The free Chrome to Phone app requires Android 2.2 (Froyo) and can be found in the Android Market by searching ‘Chrome to Phone.’
Look after the break to learn about Gmail’s latest updates. There you’ll also find brief video demonstrations for Voice Actions and Chrome to Phone. Continue reading Google intros Voice Actions, Chrome to Phone; updates Gmail UI and contacts section, enables multiple account sign-in
I’m just as surpised as you are when I found out that the boys of Cupertino allowed Fring, a voice/video/IM client app, to update its services to give its users the ability to make video calls over AT&T’s 3G network. Up until now, iPhone 4 users could make video calls using Apple’s FaceTime feature, and this is restricted to WiFi only and other iPhone 4 users. With the latest version of Fring, iPhone 4 users have multiple options when it comes to video calling. They can video chat over WiFi & 3G and with non-iPhone 4 users (it’ll work with any mobile device that carries Fring in its App Store). And since Fring allows you to connect your Skype account to it, now you can video chat with friends and family from iPhone 4 to a PC/Mac running Skype. Among other new features, Fring now supports iOS4 multitasking and offers a new “social stream” and a “smarter address book”. Give it a try now–the updated Fring app is sitting in the App Store for $0.
Some clarification: If you have an iPhone 4, you can use Fring to make video calls with other iPhone 4 users as well as users of other devices. If the user you are calling is using an HTC EVO 4G, two-way video calling should work just fine since both the iPhone 4 and EVO 4G have front-facing cameras. If the user you are calling has a phone that does not have a front-facing camera (say, the Droid Incredible), video calling will only work one-way (from iPhone 4 to the Incredible). Having a front-facing camera is a requirement to send out video; your backside camera will not suffice. Get it?–got it?–good.
Update: Since the update was pushed out last Thursday, tons of iPhone owners have been testing it and this resulted in “network stress” for Fring’s servers. For the time being, Fring is “temporarily reducing support to 3rd –party Skype.” This means that many of your cell phone to PC/Mac audio/video calls mediated by Skype may not go through at this time. Fring says they’re working on the issue, and they hope the temporary shut down will open up the ether for Fring-to-Fring video calling.
Update 2: When Fring decided to temporarily pull the Skype service from its app due to “network stress” issues, Skype swiftly insisted that this action was a breach of their API Terms of Use and End User Licence Agreement. Skype goes on to say that the Fring’s decision to remove Skype functionality “damaged the Skype brand” and reputation. In a blog post titled “Skype Cowardly Blocks fring“, Fring goes on the defensive and claims that Skype removed itself from the app, while Skype refutes this claim and calls it “untrue.” Two can play this he said/she said game all day long, but what does this all result in for the end consumer? No Skype (voice/video) capability with Fring. And that’s a major disappointment because for that very short period of time, Fring was the only way to make iPhone 4 to PC/Mac video communication. Blast! Look after the break for the official statements from both parties involved.
[Via Fring, here, here & here; Skype] Continue reading Fring update allows 2-way video calling over 3G with iPhone 4 (and more) [Update: Skype support is gone]
Sure, it’s a fake app but the advertisement is very real and it’s downright hysterical! This ad for the “Anti Knock-Up Application” was entered into the Cannes Future Lions 2010 competition that challenged designers to “advertise a product from a global brand in a way that couldn’t be conceived five years ago.” This ad does a pretty damn good job at showing how such an app could scare young men into using condoms. Ah, what a hoot!
The official Twitter application for iPhone (and iPod touch) is available for download today. It’s called Twitter for iPhone and it comes directly from Twitter, Inc. and aquired developer Atebits. Get it for free at the App Store.
[Via TwitterBlog]
Designed by Smule (the musical geniuses behind Ocarina, Leaf Trombone, I Am T-Pain, and Magic Piano apps), the Glee music app puts you behind the mic and lets you belt out your favorite songs from the FOX hit show. Here’s how it works. You got your iPhone or iPad, right? Plug in some headphones to get the background music pumping. Hit start and music plays in the ‘phones while the lyrics scroll across the screen. Now sing. There’s a live pitch meter that let’s know if you’re in tune or not. But it doesn’t end there. Say you can’t sing all-natural and need some help. The app automatically auto-tunes your voice and generates harmonies from your voice. Neat-o, right!? Once you’re done recording a song, you can share it with friends on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or email (or the entire Glee app network) and listen to other Gleeks rocking out. Everything is stored on Smule’s servers for easy access right from the app. If you choose to “broadcast” your recorded song, other app users can find the track and sing on top of it, creating a band-like experience. A world-wide Glee Club, if you will.
The Glee app is available at the App Store today for $2.99. It comes with three tracks (“Rehab”, “Somebody to Love”, and “You Keep Me Hanging On”) and Smule promises to add new tracks every week. They will appear as in-app purchases. So far, the Glee “music store” includes the following additional songs: “Can’t Fight This Feeling”, “Imagine”, “I’ll Stand By You”, “Lean On Me”, and “No Air”. The social aspects work over WiFi and 3G. Well, what are you waiting for!? Gleek out! (See how it’s done after the break.)
Since its inception Twitter (the company) ran its website at www.twitter.com and left Twitter applications for desktop and mobile clients to third party developers. On Friday Twitter announced a significant change in its overall game plan. Twitter is no longer taking a backseat to developers when it comes to running Twitter in applications outside the main Twitter website. Twitter has aquired Atebits, the company behind one of the most popular Twitter clients for Mac desktops and iPhones, Tweetie. Loren Brichter, the man behind Atebits, is part of the deal and will become a vital member of Twitter, helping the company retool the app for the iPhone, other mobile devices, and eventually the iPad. Twitter’s reasoning behind the move: “People are looking for an app from Twitter, and they’re not finding one. So, they get confused and give up. It’s important that we optimize for user benefit and create an awesome experience.” Tweetie will be renamed Twitter for iPhone and its price tag will fall from $2.99 to free. A release date was not disclosed.
So what do we think about this? It’s great! Now there’s going to be an “official” Twitter app that all iPhone (and other mobile device) users can download and share similar experiences with. If you’re new to Twitter, this will likely be the go-to app. If you’ve been part of the community for some time, third party Twitter apps aren’t going anywhere, so dipping your toe into different user experiences will always be an option. What this merger of sorts does is give Twitter a major boost against naysayers who believe Twitter is a fragmented service with too many varying apps for it. Now the company can say there’s a streamlined Twitter experience waiting for those who want to take that route. It’s a win-win for all of us.
[Via Twitter]